Posted on 03/30/2005 10:09:34 AM PST by churchillbuff
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The state House Judiciary Committee chairman said Tuesday he will consider starting an impeachment investigation of the state judge in the Terri Schiavo case, but said he thought it unlikely that the judge would be impeached. Christian conservatives and advocates of the disabled have launched an Internet campaign and collected more than 28,000 electronic signatures in favor of impeaching Pinellas County Circuit Judge George Greer, who has presided for seven years over the legal battle between Schiavo's husband, Michael Schiavo, and her parents, Bob and Mary Schindler. Greer allowed Michael Schiavo to have her nutrition and hydration tube removed March 18. He contends she would have wanted its removal, but the parents want to keep her alive. ''People have asked me to seek to impeach him,'' said House Judiciary Committee Chairman David Simmons, R-Longwood, which he said was not unusual given his position. Article 3, Section 17 of the Florida Constitution says circuit judges ''shall be liable to impeachment for misdemeanor in office.'' Such a move would require a two-thirds vote by the state House to impeach, and then a two-thirds vote by the state Senate to convict, with the chief justice of the state Supreme Court presiding over the trial before the Senate. ''I think that's a pretty heavy burden to sustain,'' Simmons
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said Tuesday. Simmons said he has received ''numerous e-mails'' asking for an investigation. ''We will look at it and analyze it,'' said Simmons, who is a lawyer. But Simmons added, ''I'm not committing to do anything other than review what any constituent tells me, as a representative and as chairman of the Judiciary [Committee], to look at.'' Stories about the severely brain-damaged woman, appeals for donations to defray legal expenses, and ''Action Alerts'' urging visitors to contact state and federal lawmakers dominate Christian conservative and anti-abortion Web sites. ''She will be a martyr when she dies,'' Simmons predicted. Although it appears that time has run out for the legislature to act in time to halt Schiavo's impending death, Simmons said he intends to work with the Senate to prevent future situations.
I'm sure there will.
Wasn't Crier disgusting??? Her face was even contorted into a hateful, abnormal expression. Her mouth never stopped. This woman is clearly a die hard death loving liberal and clearly she has swallowed EVERYTHING that has been put out by Schiavo and Felos. I had to turn her off several times. I won't be clicking on her show anymore and I'm sorry I paid $40.00 for her book on the Peterson trial.
That was a Federal judge who violated that law.
Greer, however, did ignore Congressional Subpoenas and should be held in contempt of Congress...but that probably won't happen.
Big whoop. They did not arrest Judge Greer for ignoring a subpoena of congress.
Greer stared them down and guess who blinked.
Arrest warrants from congress should have been issued, for Greer, failing to keep a congressional witness safe, the federal judge, failure to judge de novo the case of Terri Schiavo, the appellate court (two of three) for not acting on congressional jurisdiction per US constitution.
They were wimps.
Terri got screwed.
DK
Thanks for the good work in posting that pleading.
Oh, you mean the old black-robed boys network. That's some real effective "checks and balance".
"Even if an impeachment inquiry was based upon questions of technical and legal competence, he would still survive it since his rulings have in fact stood through the Appeals and Supreme Court levels. Impeach him, and theoretically you would have to impeach them all. And it would still be a waste of time and taxpayers money since nothing would come of it..."
I am not so sure about that. First of all, the appeals and supreme court have pretty much punted this case.
Second, the only hearing of fact was Judge Greer. No other judge has accepted any evidence to hear in the case. New or old. All they have done is say what is your argument? to the Shindlers, then follow up with no.
What part of "that probably won't happen" didn't you understand. We are in agreement here. Why are you arguing with me?
HB: By attempting to paint those with whom you disagree as "absolutist pro-lifers," you come dangerously close to falling into the same name-calling crowd as those who called you a "bloodless zombie leftist."
I was not name-calling, merely trying to describe the subset of pro-lifers here (I am a pro-lifer, but not in that subset) who disagree, on an a priori basis, with Judge Greer's decision. What distinguishes those who object is that they have made their pro-life views more absolutely focused on the physical (as opposed to the intellectual or spiritual) aspects of life.
We are dealing here with the opposite end of life from that of the abortion abuse. Here we are dealing with the rights of people who have lost their mental and spiritual capacity of life. Those who take a more 'absolutist' physical view say that the physical life must be preserved even after the mental and spiritual capacity is lost. I disagree.
Thanks for a very cogent distinction between name-calling and a description of "the subset of pro-lifers here."
Beyond the ethical, moral, philosophical and spirtual opinions flying about on other posts, arguments in this thread seem focused sharply on the legal and logical violations of canon law by Judge Greer in the decisions he made on the basis of evidence.
Greer's a priori intention to move his findings and rulings relentlessly in favor of Death in his viewing of all evidence is apparent--and he will be found guilty of those misdemeanors when this case is examined de novo in the upcoming court actions after the demise of Terri Schiavo.
Just replied to you, sorry.
Not a real argument. But very tired.
DK
I'm a politician here me now "BlaBlaBlaBlaMeMeMeMy MyBlaBlaBla"
oh, okay...since it was along the same lines it sounded like you were responding to what I posted.
It's a sad day...
"...Greer has technically done nothing illegal..."
Huh? He receives financial donations from Felos. I believe that conflict of interest is illegal.
Unlike discussion threads here, our courts do not have trials over matters which have been mooted. There will be no de novo procedures about Terri.
I think we all ought to await with great interest, though, the results of the autopsy. I realize that those who support 'physical life at any cost' will not be dissuaded by mere facts, but I suspect the autopsy will establish beyond all doubt that the quacks who forecast 'improvement' with 'the right therapy' will be shown to be the con artists they are.
Then the people who wanted to restore the feeding tube will be left with defending the concept of forcibly maintaining an empty shell of a body merely because it looked something like a traditional human body.
Let's be honest. Terri had an absolute right to die when she wanted and she did.
Feds on down knew the fix was in for Terri.
I am posting about Dave Simmons because his mtg w/us was a ruse. I've called his district office recently and advised his staff to visit www.northcountrygazette.org and to read June Maxam's book that's not out yet, on what I call Schiavo-Gate.
The politicos think they squeaked by. Not hardly. This crime has many, many witnesses.
8mmmauser, can you link this thread onto the December dailies? then what happens in January, 8?
Simmons KNEW Terri would be a martyr because the rescue was cancelled the very day that people met w/him in Longwood. The VERY DAY.
I brought up the martyr thing to him in the first place, and it appears he felt it appropriate to state same to an out of state paper? He certainly didn't say that in Florida to my knowledge.
FV SAYS: Everyone who is still passionate about Terri's murder, contact Dave Simmons in Tallahassee. He thinks this has blown over. Not!
As far as I know, Simmons has not worked w/the Senate... He's falling down on the job, not keeping his word.
He didn't do this either: "Simmons said he intends to work with the Senate to prevent future situations."
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